I met a colleague in Bakshibazar Dhaka Central Jail. On November 28, 2013, around 1:30 p.m., we were surrounded by four or five people. Biplab, Sohail, Samrat, Mithu, and I were forcefully taken in a black vehicle parked on the main road. After driving for an hour, we were taken to a secluded place.  We were beaten severely in the vehicle. In that secluded place, we were placed in separate chambers, our hands tied and eyes blindfolded, enduring 16 consecutive days of brutal torture. On the last day, Biplab, Mithu, and I were brought out with our hands strapped and blindfolded, and the car stopped on the side of the Dhaka-Mawa highway. I received no news about the other two, Sohail and Samrat. We last spoke with them in the adjacent chamber while their eyes and hands were still tied. I bid farewell to Sohail and Samrat, but I could not see them. Sohail mentioned, "Maybe they will release you; please take care of my 4-year-old son." There was no further conversation with Sohail. Samrat also asked for prayers, saying, "Brother, pray for us so that we could also return like you; so that they send us to jail". However, I have received no news from Sohail or Samrat. Their bodies were not found. I do not know if they are alive or dead. Nevertheless, those who abducted us are aware of the whereabouts of Sohail and Samrat. If they are dead, they have been killed. And if they are alive, they are being held captive. Former Vice President of Dhaka Metropolitan South, Anisur Rahman, recounted these events. He became the victim of enforced disappearance from November 28 to December 14, 2013.

Md. Anisur Rahman was born on March 1, 1982, in Nagarpur Upazila of Tangail District. His father, Haji Akram Hossain, and mother, Suraiya Begum, left behind three daughters and their only son, Anis. He completed his SSC in 2000 from Nagarpur Jadunath Pilot School and College and his Higher Secondary from Nagarpur Government College in 2002. Anisur became active in Chhatra Dal politics during his college days while supporting the Chhatra Dal panel in the 2001 Nagarpur Government College student union elections. Due to family constraints, he refrained from being a candidate. After completing his studies, he moved to Dhaka to join his father in the printing press business in Banglabazar. Despite his involvement in Chhatra Dal politics in the Sutrapur police station, he did not hold any position due to the absence of a committee for an extended period. In 2018, after a long hiatus, he was elected vice president of Dhaka Metropolitan South Chhatra Dal. However, the committee disbanded after just three months, prompting Anisur to actively engage with South Jubo Dal on the streets. Throughout his 23-year political career, he was arrested twice and faced numerous assaults. He was once force-disappeared at the hands of law enforcement. For almost four months, he has been staying at Mumbai's Tata Memorial Hospital to care for his cancer-stricken wife, Tamanna Tasmin. Anisur Rahman shared his experiences with Bangla Outlook's Dhaka representative over the phone.

Bangla Outlook: What motivated you to enter politics?

Anis: Since 1979, our family has lived in Banglabazar of old Dhaka. When President Ziaur Rahman came to power, my father, Akram Hussain Shahid, was extensively drawn to his honesty, patriotism, and concern for the ordinary people. Ziaur Rahman's passing deeply affected him, and he mourned for several days. Listening to my father recount various anecdotes about Ziaur Rahman, I developed a fondness for this name during my childhood. It felt as though we were a part of Ziaur Rahman's family. That is how I was drawn to his ideology. My father, Akram Hossain, used to narrate to our siblings the contrasting eras of Sheikh Mujib and Ziaur Rahman's governance. From that point onward, I gravitated towards BNP and the legacy of Ziaur Rahman. Subsequently, I became involved in BNP politics during my college years, attending Chhatra Dal rallies and gatherings.

Bangla Outlook: Despite not having any leadership position for an extended period, why do you remain committed to this party? 

Anis: The one thing I inherited from my father is the ideals of BNP and Ziaur Rahman. Titles have never held significance for me. What matters most is being part of the party. Speaking out against the prevailing injustices on behalf of the party feels like a mandate passed down by my father. Thus, I am dedicated to this cause and intend to remain with this group until the end.

Bangla Outlook: What challenges or risks have you encountered while remaining associated with this party?

Anis: Following my father's passing due to cancer in 1997, the responsibility of managing the family business fell solely on my shoulders as the only son. During the 1/11, Bangladesh was experiencing a tumultuous period of misrule. Being actively involved in BNP politics upon relocating to Dhaka, I quickly became a target for law enforcement authorities and local Awami League members. Our business faced numerous hindrances, including disruptions and raids by the police. In 2009, when I became active with Sutrapur Thana Chhatra Dal, the challenges intensified. Often, we had to shut down our businesses due to relentless attacks and police interventions. After 2012, when the political climate became increasingly turbulent, the oppression against me escalated further. Many of my colleagues were imprisoned, and I frequently visited the Jail on Nazimuddin Road to inquire about them. On November 28, 2013, I was apprehended by law enforcement officials near the jail gate on Nazimuddin Road.

Bangla Outlook: Have you faced any legal charges?

Anis: No, I have not. I became a target for law enforcement and the Awami League due to my involvement with the politics of the late Mayor of Dhaka, Sadeque Hossain Khoka. Similarly, I also came under scrutiny because of my support for leaders and activists of Sutrapur, Kabi Nazrul College, Suhrawardy College, and Gendaria Thana Chhatra Dal. I have provided shelter to them in my home on numerous occasions to shield them from police raids. This solidarity has made me a target for police detention multiple times, although they were unsuccessful. Eventually, I was compelled to vacate my residence in 2012, but I have not been implicated in any legal cases.

Bangla Outlook: Why were you abducted?

Anis: I am unsure. Initially, the focus of law enforcement was on Samrat Mollah, the organising secretary of Sutrapur Thana Chhatra Dal, and Khalid Hasan Sohel, the president of Ward 43. On that day, Biplab, Mithu, and I accompanied them to the jail gate to visit Sanjay, a Chhatra Dal activist from Ward 43 who was imprisoned. It was around half-past 1pm on Thursday afternoon, amidst BNP's blockade program. We were then apprehended by individuals dressed in white.

Bangla Outlook: How were you taken?

Anis: We were at the visitor's ticket counter of the jail, where we left our mobile phones and wallets and took tokens to visit Sanjay. Four or five people dressed in white approached us from behind, asking for our names. Once we responded, they grabbed our waist belts, and dragged us into a black microbus parked next to the roadside counter.

Bangla Outlook: What happened inside the car?

Anis: They immediately blindfolded us with a black cloth while our hands were handcuffed behind our back as soon as we were inside the vehicle. So I was not able to see them after that. I could only infer that there were five of us in the car, with two in the middle and the remaining three, including the Samrat, in the back seat. Their abductors occupied seats on both sides of us, both in front and behind.

Bangla Outlook: Did they interrogate you in the car?

Anis: Initially, they began assaulting us with kicks, punches, and sticks. From behind, I could hear Samrat's cries of pain. It was evident from their remarks that he was subjected to severe physical abuse. I, too, was struck on the back of my head, rendering me unable to utter a sound. I sustained cuts to the front of my head. This torture continued intermittently throughout the journey, which lasted approximately one to one and a half hours. They primarily interrogated Samrat and Sohail about their alleged involvement in a cocktail explosion in Sutrapur the previous day, November 27. However, under torture, none of us could speak anything.

Bangla Outlook: Where were you taken next?

Anis: Suddenly, the car came to a halt. The entire area was deserted and silent. They guided us out of the car, leading us by hand, and made us sit on the ground after a brief walk of about 10 to 20 seconds. Although it felt like all five of us were together, we couldn't see each other or communicate. There was complete silence until I heard the Samrat's screams after about five minutes. His cries echoed for nearly 10 minutes. Our hands and eyes were bound behind our backs, rendering us sightless. Then, one by one, we each heard cries and loud screams. The person seated beside me inquired about the name of the Biplab. After two individuals were taken away, someone grabbed me and escorted me to a room. We walked approximately 5 to 10 steps before I was made to sit on a chair. Subsequently, they removed my handcuffs but I was still blindfolded, tightly securing my hands and feet to the chair's hand rest and legs.

Bangla Outlook: What occurred after that?

Anis: Without any interrogation, they mercilessly struck me seven or eight times with a thick stick on my thigh, knee, shoulder, and arm. I cried out in agony as they pressured me to confess, "You planted the bombs on the police," to which I vehemently denied any involvement. They persisted, insisting that I accept responsibility for another bomb attack in Jatrabari on either the 25th or 26th of November. When I continued to refuse, two men, possibly three in total, subjected me to severe beatings from both sides. From their conversation, I couldn't discern whether they were Detective Branch (DB) members or another law enforcement agency. Still, it was evident from their interaction that they were law enforcement personnel. The assault lasted for approximately fifteen minutes, during which I steadfastly maintained my innocence, crying out, "You're mistaken; I had no part in this." Eventually, the beating ceased.

Bangla Outlook: What happened next?

Anis: After that, they released my arms and legs from the chair, only to handcuff them again, this time in front. I could barely stand, let alone walk. They supported me as we walked for a few minutes before reaching another room. This room had an iron gate and thick curtains. They pushed me inside, locking the iron door behind me. In a state of panic, I remained motionless. The room resembled a tomb, measuring about four and a half feet wide and seven feet long. I lay on the bare floor, devoid of pillows or blankets, my hands bound and eyes blindfolded, unable to discern between day and night. Eventually, I began to feel a chill, which I interpreted as the transition from night to morning. Despite lying down, I was not able to sleep. After 8 to 10 hours, I heard the sound of the iron door unlocking.

Bangla Outlook: What transpired next?

Anis: They escorted me to another nearby room, where they released the handcuffs on my right hand and led me to a basin. Turning on the water tap, they guided my hands under the flowing water, allowing me to wash them. Afterwards, they returned me to the floor with my eyes still shut. Moments later, they offered me a spoonful of rice, urging me to eat. However, due to gastric discomfort causing heartburn, I could only manage to ingest one mouthful before declining further. I requested a gastric tablet, to which they responded by rewashing their hands, re-handcuffing me, and returning me to the original room. They provided a water bottle and plastic bucket, instructing me to urinate in the latter. After approximately 10 hours, they retrieved me again, handing me the urine bucket and instructing me to clean it in a nearby toilet. Blindfolded, I complied with their directions. Following this, they returned me to the floor and offered rice again. Despite attempting to eat, I could only manage a few small bites before being returned to the room. This routine continued for several days until one night, amidst the humming sounds emanating from adjacent rooms, I realized others were present, including, perhaps, Samrat. After enduring this ordeal for several days, they eventually placed me in a chamber within the same room, where I could hear voices from adjacent chambers.

Bangla Outlook: What happened next?

Anis: I requested gastric medications. After two or three days, they brought me to that chamber. After they gave the medications, somebody called out a name from the opposite side. I was frightened. After some time, the voice called out the name again. Fearfully, I inquired, "Who?" The response came, "I am Biplab." Following this exchange, I conversed with Sohail and Samrat in adjacent rooms, speaking in subdued voice.

Bangla Outlook: Didn't they realize that you were talking?

Anis: I was in the front chamber, so when I communicated with Biplab from the neighbouring room for two or three days, I was caught. They viciously beat me with sticks inside my chamber while I retaliated, questioning why I was detained and why my family wasn't informed. Enraged, they intensified the beating, leaving me injured on the floor. Despite the pain, I continued conversing with my friends.

Bangla Outlook: What happened next?

Anis: The days passed this way, with day merging into night. We communicated with each other through the walls while lying blindfolded on the floor. I lost track of time; I couldn't count the days. We speculated that we might be killed in a staged 'encounter', given the brutality of our captors. We sensed that our survival wasn't their intention. At any moment, they could single us out. After 8 to 10 days, a senior officer approached me and politely asked my name. I eagerly provided it and expressed my wrongful detention, clarifying my lack of involvement in any unlawful activities. However, I received no further response. With my eyes blindfolded, I couldn't ascertain whether he remained present. After speaking for a while without any reply, I assumed he had left. Twice a day, they fed me but provided no access to a restroom during this time. We could only converse in hushed tones with the five individuals abducted at the same time. I vented my frustration one day, demanding either my release or the communication of my situation to my family. One of them reassured me in response, saying, "Don't worry, we will let you go."

Bangla Outlook: Did they release you then?

Anis: No. I inquired about when they would release me, but one of them reprimanded me, ordering me to remain silent. Another 2 to 3 days passed in this manner. Suddenly, one day, one of them unlocked the door, handed me food, and informed me that today was my fortunate day, and I would be released. Overwhelmed, I hugged him. However, he promptly reprimanded me and returned me to the remand room, where I sat on the floor. Removing the black covering from my face, they made me lower my head and cover my eyes with a thin towel. Beneath the towel, I glimpsed the room's light and a tall, fair man seated on a chair before us. My other friends, Biplab and Mithu, were also brought into the room. We all sat on the floor, and I could see them. However, Sohail and Samrat Mollah were not brought in; only three out of the total five abducted were present. The officer seated on the chair addressed the three of us, "Why are you involved in politics? There's no need for this dirty game. Serve your parents. Those who come here never leave with their limbs intact. You are fortunate to have your parents' blessings, so you are going to be free." As he spoke, he mercilessly beat all three of us with a thick cane, inflicting severe injuries on various parts of our bodies, including our lips, ears, and hands. We screamed in agony. Despite the pain, I agreed to quit politics to avoid further beatings. In response, he declared that he would release us that day.

Bangla Outlook: Did you inquire why Samrat and Sohail were not released?

Anis: Yes, I did ask. However, the officer beat me in response. He retorted, "I am letting you go; that's your fate. You need not worry about them." I persisted, expressing concern about how to answer if their families questioned us. Enraged by my persistence, he subjected me to further beatings, causing my hands and feet to swell.

Bangla Outlook: How were you released?

Anis: I pleaded with the officer, saying that if they released us, the police would apprehend us again. He assured me that he would leave us in a place where the police wouldn't find us. Then, they placed some money in the back pocket of my pants, removed the handcuffs, and tightly bound my hands with a towel in front. They also blindfolded my eyes and barefooted me. Suddenly, everyone fell silent, communicating in gestures. One of them led me to a waiting car, where my other two friends were already seated. It was evident that Samrat and Sohail were not brought into the car; they had been left behind. From this, we inferred that our abductors were members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The car began moving, initially encountering a slightly uneven road before proceeding onto a flat stretch. After about thirty minutes, the car suddenly stopped at the command from outside. Moments later, it resumed its journey, only to brake again after 10 to 15 minutes.

Bangla Outlook: Why did it stop again?

Anis: Within seconds of halting, the car door was opened, and I was shoved out from behind. I tumbled down the road like a frog, my hands and eyes still bound with towels. I heard the sound of the car speeding away but couldn't see anything. My friends Biplab and Mithu were also dropped alongside me. We untied ourselves and removed the blindfolds. It was around one or two o'clock in the night, with only the faint moonlight illuminating the area. Biplab assisted us in unbinding our hands and eyes. Mithu was a little distance away, and after freeing herself, we all climbed up from the slope of the road. Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, we felt relieved to be alive, devoid of fear, sleep, hunger, or other thoughts.

Bangla Outlook: How did you manage to return home from there?

Anis: We continued walking along the main road. Spotting a police patrol car in the distance, I panicked and veered off the road. They shouted from the car but did not stop. After they passed, we resumed walking until we reached a branch road where we encountered a rickshaw. We hailed the rickshaw puller and instructed him, as we were told before release, to claim that we were abducted by kidnappers if asked. Despite his initial apprehension, the rickshaw puller agreed to take us to his nearby hut, where he offered us bamboo mats to sleep on. However, we couldn't sleep. Towards dawn, his father discovered us and initially mistook us for thieves. After explaining our predicament, the rickshaw puller's father relented and provided us shelter. He mentioned that we were in a village near Nimtali on the Dhaka-Munshiganj road, although I cannot recall the name of the village now. Biplab disclosed that his uncle was the chairman of that union. Eventually, the rickshaw puller's father calmed down, and we decided to leave as the Fajr Azan sounded in the distance.

Bangla Outlook: Where did you go from there?

Anis: We returned to the main road and walked a bit further. The morning light was beginning to emerge. We spotted a bridge in the distance, and upon recognizing the place, Biplab sent Mithu, who was with us, to Sutrapur. Biplab and I stayed there.

Bangla Outlook: What was your next move?

Anis: A restaurant was just opening its door on the bridge's slope. We approached and asked for charcoal. I used it to clean my teeth. Then, we had breakfast with bread and vegetables in that restaurant. We had 300 Taka given by our captors, totalling 600 Taka for the two of us. We started walking towards Biplab's grandmother's house. Along the way, someone embraced Biplab. By this time, news of our disappearance had spread. After a short walk, we reached Biplab's grandmother's house. There, we were bathed with neem leaves and milk as our hair was tangled. After the bath, I felt rejuvenated. We were served rice with fish, vegetables, and lentils. It was the first time in many days that I could eat rice. I savoured the meal with the most excellent satisfaction of my life. Meanwhile, the people at Biplab's grandmother's house contacted my elder sister, Ayesha Khatun. Only her mobile number was in my mind.

Bangla Outlook: How did your family react?

Anis: My sister burst into tears of joy upon receiving the call. She was almost fainting as we spoke. She screamed and cried, expressing her relief. She mentioned that they had searched for me at the Dhaka Medical Mortuary and that my wife, Tamanna Tasmin, had gone to the police station in Dhaka city and cried for my return. About an hour later, shortly after 9 am, my elder sister Ayesha and cousin Tapan Mia arrived in a CNG at Biplab's grandmother's house.

Bangla Outlook: What did you find when you returned home?

Anis: We left for Dhaka around 9:30 am. Biplab stayed at his grandmother's house. Within a few hours, I reached my home in Sutrapur. I found my wife and relatives gathered at home. There were tears of joy and hugs all around. I, too, cried with the overwhelming happiness of being alive. News of my return spread, and soon, the Sutrapur Thana police and journalists arrived. The Chowkbazar police asked me to go to the police station to withdraw the general diary, but out of fear, none of us went there. My family took me to Tangail with my wife and children the next day.

Bangla Outlook: How was your treatment?

Anis: I purchased pain medication from the local pharmacy in the village. However, party leaders wanted to take me to the hospital for treatment, but my family members insisted on treating me at home.

Bangla Outlook: What is your situation now?

Anis: A month after returning from enforced disappearance, I returned to Dhaka from Tangail and resumed active participation in party activities. Meanwhile, my wife, Tamanna, who herself is the co-student affairs secretary of Chhatra Dal's Dhaka Metropolitan South Committee, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Currently, I am in India to treat her. We've almost exhausted all our resources. Our son is studying in Class XI at Notre Dame College, and our daughter is in the 10th grade at Siddheshwari Girls School. I've left them alone in Dhaka while I'm away.

Bangla Outlook: Three of the five of you returned, but what about the other two?

Anis: I didn't receive any news about them. On the day we were dropped on the roadside, the last conversation we had was in the next chamber with our eyes and hands tied. I bid Sohail and Samrat farewell, but I couldn't see them. Sohail mentioned, "Maybe they will release you; please take care of my 4-year-old son." There was no further conversation with Sohail. Samrat also asked for prayers, saying, "Brother, pray for us so that we could also return like you; so that we would be sent to jail". However, I have received no news from Sohail or Samrat. Their bodies were not found. I do not know if they are alive or dead. Nevertheless, those who abducted us are aware of the whereabouts of Sohail and Samrat. If they are dead, they have been killed. And if they are alive, they are being held captive. 

Bangla Outlook: What memories do you hold of them?

Anis: I met Sohail and Samrat's families after returning but couldn't bring myself to say anything. Their final words still echo in my mind. Since then, sleep, eating, and drinking have become tough. Even just thinking about it brings me mental anguish.

Bangla Outlook: Why do you continue in politics?

Anis: I no longer fear death. I'm fighting for people's liberation, a better future for our children, and a peaceful Bangladesh. I'll keep fighting on the front lines as long as I'm alive.

Bangla Outlook: Thank you.

Anis: Thank you to Bangla Outlook as well. Keep raising the voices of millions of oppressed individuals like me. Continue fighting to establish the truth. Victory awaits.